Anxiety

Feeling so anxious about being anxious lol. I have many things to do and I'm anxious about being anxious because the anxiety causes me to lock up and procrastinate. Any tips?

[Jeff1943]

No reason to feel anxious about feeling anxious. Nobody was ever maimed, killed or sent crazy by anxiety disorder, it does not have the power to do that.You have created a vicious circle where anxiety is followed by fear of anxiety which causes more anxiety and so on.

High anxiety is a horrible feeling and all of its symptoms like panic attacks, health anxiety, derealisation, agoraphobia and nervous depletion are most unpleasant.

To break the vicious circle you have to agree to accept the bad feelings for the time being. Do not fight them or look for magical solutions that don't exist. You know that anxiety disorder is a glitch in your nervous system caused by anxiety overload. By accepting your anxiety for as long as it needs you stop over producing anxiety hormones like cortisol and adrenaline which cause your nerves to become over sensitised.

If you can cultivate acceptance then you gradually stop this over sensitisation process and your anxiety levels return to normal.

[Hidden in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you for the advice brother, will keep this in mind.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Hidden]

GoodandBad, these thoughts are not my own, they are based on the teachings of Doctor Claire Weekes whom I have followed for 60 years. In that time her first book 'Self help for your nerves', also published as 'Hope and help for your nerves', has helped millions to recover from anxiety disorder. Millions? That is the estimate of David Barlow, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Boston University, who described Claire as "the woman who cracked the anxiety code". The book which advocates Acceptance as the key to recovery, continues to sell well on Amazon and Ebay all these years later. If you only read one more book in your life...🤗

[Thankfulforhelp22 in reply to Jeff1943]

I just read your advice and thought it was very good. Something I will keep in mind as well.

Bless you.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Thankfulforhelp22]

Recovery begins when we stop fighting anxiety. Fighting only causes more stress and strain, which are the last things that jangled nerves need more of. Instead we learn to practice 'masterly inactivity', which is to say Acceptance for the time being. Do not let the flash of first fear be followed by second fear.The ocean waves crash against the rock on the shoreline, they flow past the rock and recede. The rock survives the fury of the waves by doing nothing. You are that rock.

[mydogs in reply to Jeff1943]

Hello Jeff as always very sound advice and hope for us suffering from this horrible anxiety x

[Jeff1943 in reply to mydogs]

Remember, Claire Weekes said everybody can recover from anxiety disorder no matter how long they have suffered so long as you practice, practice, practice:Face. Accept. Float. Let time pass.

[bonkers65 in reply to Jeff1943]

Jeff, does that mean when we are having a lot of anxiety and we practice mindfulness, meditation, exercise ect. Is that considered fighting the anxiety?

[Hidden in reply to bonkers65]

I would also like to know if exercise is fighting the anxiety.

[Jeff1943 in reply to bonkers65]

I wouldn't think so, Bonkers, as those things are passive things in keeping with acceptance.

[asenath in reply to Jeff1943]

Thanks again Jeff1943. x

[scansnap]

You are suffering from anticipatory, anxiety: feeling anxious about becoming anxious. I would examine the thoughts that you are having that lead you to make yourself anxious in the first place, and also what would be the consequences of being anxious? What is the worst thing that could happen? What is the best thing that could happen? What is the most likely thing that could happen?